In the early 1920’s Ernest Landry found his way from Canada to Berlin, NH. There he met a Berlin, NH native, Anna (aka Annie Lessard, whom he sooner than later married. During their courtship he escorted her to a local carnival. I’m guessing that he played one of those ball toss games. Anyway, he won a prize for his sweetheart! The prize: Hiawatha Indian Bust – Chalk Ware. (SEE BELOW)

Can you remember a time when you won a prize at a carnival, or when someone won one for you? My recollection is only seeing others win and it was usually a stuffed animal, and some were gigantic. A smile crossed my face whenever I saw someone win one of those gigantic stuffed animals. I would smile at the thought of them now trying to lug that thing around. For a before-driver’s-license teen age boy, on a date, that probably meant lugging that thing around the park to show off what was won. That’s OK, but then comes walking home the date with “Monster Fluffy” in tow, and to top it off she lives at the end of the world!

This brings me back to Hiawatha with a smile on my face. My grandfather, Ernest, after winning a prize for his sweetheart, Annie, had to lug around Hiawatha, a near life size “breakable” Chalk Ware Bust. Certainly nothing that one can comfortably snuggle under the arm. Not sure that the streets were paved and I’m sure he and Annie were hoofing it back in the day. She was probably beaming with pride and maybe he was so love struck that he didn’t give the awkwardness of Hiawatha under his arm pit a second thought.

The moral of this story and the real prize for these two sweethearts was the experience, the memory of it and each other. . .

Summer time, carnival time! Do you have a carnival story to share? Please do!

Some call this a Cigar Store Indian Figure, but not this one! This very good to mint condition bust/with a story is available for your Native American/South West Theme Décor at Four Corners Brick House in Gilmanton, NH - For Sale by Oomph Redesigns -